Chapter 2 –Moving on? Piece of Cake

“So anong oras ang party?” I asked habang naghahalungkat sa luggage ko. Kahapon napa-oo ako kay Ivo na sasamahan ko siya sa party kaya heto, para akong nag-uukay-ukay.

“Around 7PM.” He shrugs.

“Formal?” gosh wala akong makitang magandang isuot! Puro panlamig pala ‘tong dala ko.

“Semi,” he answered.

“Sh-t!” I cussed after realizing na kulang ng isang maleta ang dala ko. Hindi ko naman siya naiwan sa airport. I left it in my mansion. How stupid of me!

“Are you okay?” concern na tanong ni Ivo.

“Jackets, furry cardigans, winter coats and dress coats! ‘Yan pala ang mga nadala ko!” naiinis ako sa sobrang katangahan ko. Kumukota na ako, ah! Hindi ako ‘to.

“So?” parang walang gana niyang sabi.

“Anong so ka diyan?! Ang init-init dito sa pinas tapos ‘yan ang dala ko?!” jusko mabuti na lang may mga dala pa rin naman akong mga casual dress at mga pambahay.

“Eh mag-shopping ka. ‘Yon naman ang gusto niyong mga babae, diba? Don’t tell me nagtitipid ka na,” tumawa pa siya. Binato ko naman siya no’ng dress coat na may bakal na belt at saktong tumama sa mukha niya.

“Pffft~ ‘buti nga!” irap ko sakanya.

“Pasalamat ka hindi ako nasasaktan,” he said tapos biglang natahimik.

“Anyare sa’yo?”

“Isang babae lang ang kaya sa aking manakit. At hanggang ngayon patuloy pa rin akong nasasaktan.” Pagdadrama niya.

“What the hell Primotivo! Please lang, ha? Spare me the drama. It’s over and done at ayokong mag reminisce ng past!” sabi ko sakanya saka ko sinara ang maleta.

“Paano ka ba naka move on? Sa limang taon mo sa Colorado, ano pinag-gagawa mo para makalimot?”

“Work. Party. Get wasted at the bar. Hook up with random guys. Then voila…” still can’t move on. “naka-move on ako.”

“Kung gagawin ko ba lahat ng ‘yan makakalimutan ko na siya?”

Hindi.

“Of course!”

“Can you help me?”

No.

“Sure. Expert na ako diyan.” Tinuon ko ang attensyon ko sa pag-sara ng aking luggage. Nagsinungaling ako para sa ikabubuti ko. Ayaw kong kaawaan ako. I don’t need his pity. Besides, sino ang tutulong sakanyang mag move on kung pati ang kasama niya ay hirap din makalimot?

Tumayo akong nakapameywang, “Samahan mo ako.” It wasn’t a request. It was an order.

“Saan?”

“Shopping. I don’t have anything to wear.”

“Alright. Mag-bibihis lang ako.” He said then stood up. Lumabas siyang kwarto at ako naman kinuha ko ang casual na damit sa luggage ko.

I wear tank top and maong shorts and flip flops. Ayaw kong masyadong pumorma. As much as possible I want to keep my identity para hindi malaman ng family ko na umuwi ako. Pero alam kong sa mga oras na ‘to ay may nakarating ng news sa daddy na umalis akong Colorado. Hindi naman siya magagalit.  He would be glad actually. But I know he will force me to live in mansion and see guys he arranged to date me.

Nang makababa na ako—there I saw Ivo standing wearing a casual rugged jeans and blue shirt. He looks like an Abercrombie model but hey, there are lots of hottie in Colorado pero iba pa rin ang lahi ni Ivo—deadly. His pair of fierce eyes that can make woman’s knees tremble. His cold body physique that can make every tongs drop. And that very manly god-given face that every man wished to have.

“Did I pass?” he mischievously said. I just smirked at him. Medyo may pagkamangahin siya pero sanay na ako. May ipagyayabang naman kasi talaga.

“Tara na nga!” nauna na ako sakanyang naglakad at naramdaman ko naman na nakasunod lang siya.

It was around 11AM nang dumating kaming mall at medyo marami-rami na rin ang tao. We headed to 2nd floor kung saan ang mga boutiques.

“Bilisan mong mamili, ah?” Ivo reminded me.

“Ayoko nga!” hindi ako papayag na hindi engrande ang suot ko sa pagbabalik ko. I won’t let them give the satisfaction to see me miserable. I am Cassey Aragon and I live to intimidate people around me. ha! I can’t wait to see the reaction on Kent and Theyn’s face when they saw me with Ivo.

I already chosen a black chiffon dress na may gold sequin sa waist part. Papatungan ko siya ng white furry shawl. Simple but I know it will always look like extravagant if I wear it. Nagbayad kami sa cashier saka kami lumipat ng boutique.

“Okay na? Uuwi na tayo?” he asked.

“No,” tinuro ko ang isang boutique. “Shoes.” I saw him grimace pero wala siyang nagawa kundi ang sumunod sa akin.

“Hindi mo sa akin pinakita ‘yung nabili mo,” he said while I was busy deciding what shoes to buy.

“Surprise,” I answer.

“How about this?” napatingin ako kay Ivo na hawak ang isang beige-silver shoes. I think it’s 6 inches and I normally just wear 5 inches.

“I don’t know… Ano size?”

“7,”

“5 size ko.” Sabi ko.

“For real? Ang liit naman ng paa mo,” natatawa niyang sabi. Inirapan ko lang siya. Nakita ko siyang tinawag ang sales at nagpakuha ng size 5. Ako naman nagtingin-tingin lang sa mga shoes at baka may iba akong magustuhan.

“Oy, rich girl.” Nakasimangot na nilingon ko si Ivo dahil sa tinawag niya sa akin.

“Ayusin mo pagtawag sa akin!” hasik ko naman.

“Woah! Tigress!” natatawa niyang sabi. Napailing na lang ako. Kakaiba talagag vampira ‘to! Minsan nga naiisip ko na baka hindi talaga siya vampire. Kasi naman para lang siyang normal na lalaki kung umasta.

Naupo ako sa mababang stool kung saan puwede kang magsukat ng shoes. Nagulat ako nang lumuhod sa harap ko. Inilabas niya sa kahon ang isang pares ng sapatos. Tumingin siya sa akin at parang naghihingi ng permiso na isukat niya ang sapatos sa akin.

“Tsk, akin na nga! I’m not Cinderella, okay?!” kinuha ko sakanya ang shoes. It perfectly fits on my petite flawless foot.

“Oh believe me, honey. No one will dream you as Cinderella.” Nakangisi niyang sabi. I just gave him my deadly look that earned me a chuckle.

“A*sh*le!”

“Feisty, I love it!” he grinned that gave me creeps. Alam mo ‘yung gwapong nakangisi at parang may balak? Ha! It’s him alright.

Umalis kami sa mall and thank god Ivo was there to help me with these shopping bags. Dati super sanay ako na may kasamang assistant kapag nagsa-shopping. I think kailangan ko na ng bestfriend para sa ganitong bagay. I have friends naman pero hindi ‘yung super close. Maybe this is why I always seek attention.

“Aren’t you hungry?” he asked habang nagda-drive siya.

“Nah!” I answered habang nakatingin sa daan. Nakita ko ang naglalakihan na billboard ng mga models.

“But it’s past lunch time. You’re suppose to eat, sweetheart.” He said. Napatingin naman ako sakanya ng nakakunot. Bakit ba kung ano-anu na lang ba tinatawag niya sa akin?

“Stop with the endearments, Primotivo!” I said and I saw he form a mischievous smirk.

“I’m used to call everybody some endearments, baby.”

“You’re effin annoying, know that?” I said to him.

“Darling, you have to deal with my hotness. We’re living together, remember?” he wiggled his eyebrow.

“Oh it could be settled. I’m going to call my assistant to find me a new pent house.” I said as I fished my hand inside my Channel bag to get my phone.

I was about to dial my assistants’ number but Ivo made a hard break at muntikan na akong mapasubsub sa dashboard ng sasakyan at pasalamat na lang ako sa seatbelt at sa imbentor nito because it saved me from hurting my face. Anything by my face, please!

“What the fudge, Ivo!” gigil kong sigaw.

“Be grateful I am letting you stay in my pad for free, sweety. So if you want to move it’s fine with me. But you have to pay me for your stay. But if you’re going to stay, I won’t ask anything from you—not even a cent.” Seryoso niyang sabi.

“How much should I pay you if I move to another pad?” I asked plainly.

“13.5M per hour. So you owe me…324M only.” He said. My eyes literally widened. Aba! Mas mahal pa siya sa Royal Penthouse Suite at the Hotel President in Geneva, Switzerland. It cost me 3M and siya? Ha!

“No way!” I yelp.

“Then stay, okay baby?” tapos kumindat siya. Bwesit talaga.

LONG bathe ang ginawa ko. I spent 2 hours inside the bathroom. I’m excited, yes. I wanted to see Kent and Theyn. Oo miss na ko na si Kent. And if I he’ll give me a chace to talk to him—I’ll grab it even only for a second.

Nagsimula na akong magbihis. 6PM na rin kasi and for sure kanina pa ‘yon si Ivo nakabihis. Kung excited ako, mas excited siya. He’s so obvious.

I curled my hair and made a messy bun from it. Hinayaan ko ang ibang buhok sa may tenga na nakalugay. I wear my expensive pair of diamond earing and my Neil Lane necklace that was a gift from my daddy.

“I’m ready,” I said to myself while staring at my mirror. My make up was light because I don’t want my natural features to hide and also I want my dress to stand out.

This is my own version of revenge. A dress to kill.

Lumabas na ako sa kwarto at bumaba. I saw Ivo standing near the terrace. Naka side view siya sa akin kaya napagmasdan ko nang mas mabuti ang hitsura niya.

He was wearing a white long sleeves, navy blue neck tie with his Armani suit jacket. His hair was simply stylized. I must admit, he has this jaw dropping aura. Sobrang gwapo.

“Tara na?” I said.

“What took you so long? We only have—“ natigilan siya nang tingnan niya ako. I know he was pleased kaya napangiti lang ako. I don’t need worships, I don’t need words, just to see someone’s reaction already made me happy. At kagaya ng pinapakitang reaction ni Ivo, alam kong nagutuhan niya suot ko.

“You’re perfect,” he said. Mas lalong lumawak ang ngiti sa labi ko.

“I know.” Lumapit siya sa akin at inilahad ang kamay. Inabot ko naman ‘yon.

“Are you ready?” he asked.

“Very,” I confidently said.

xxx

Natutuwa ako kay Cassey, ang arte-arte! hahaha Bago ko gawin ang mga POVs ni Cassey, nagme-meditate muna ako para makapag change personality ang utak ko. hahaha. 

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©Thyriza